Irish Baroque Orchestra to Make Historic BBC Proms Debut
- irishbaroque
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
Ireland’s Olivier award-winning orchestra becomes the second-ever Irish orchestra invited to the Proms, performing the rare 1742 Dublin version of ‘Alexander’s Feast’.
This summer, the Irish Baroque Orchestra will make history as it becomes the first Irish orchestra in over 45 years to perform at the BBC Proms, an esteemed 8-week music festival showcasing the best in classical music to the widest possible audience. This landmark moment sees the Olivier award-winning Orchestra take its place on an international stage, an achievement that not only highlights the ensemble's success but also marks a significant milestone for the entire Irish classical music scene.
The second Irish orchestra in history to be invited to the Proms, the Irish Baroque Orchestra is widely known as Ireland’s Time Travelling Orchestra - an ensemble that brings the past to life through period instruments. Their Proms debut will spotlight precisely that, as they perform Handel’s Alexander’s Feast in its rarely-heard 1742 Dublin version, a nod to Handel’s deep ties to the city where Messiah had its world premiere.
“Performances of these Dublin versions are almost unheard of today,” says Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Whelan. “We’re incredibly proud to bring this music back to life with parts made specially for this occasion, and to do it on such an acclaimed stage is a dream come true.”
This achievement comes at a pivotal moment for the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Peter Whelan, who were awarded an Olivier in 2022 for their groundbreaking work with the Irish National Opera. Their 2024 collaboration with INO on ‘L’Olimpiade’ was nominated for Best New Opera at the 2025 Olivier Awards.
Patrick O’Donovan T.D., Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport said:
“I am so thrilled for Peter and the Irish Baroque Orchestra team with their debut at the 2025 Proms, one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world.
Through the support of the Culture Ireland unit of my Department, the IBO has been developing a substantial reputation on the international concert scene. This opportunity is the culmination of that hard work.
It also marks an important milestone in the history of classical music in Ireland and I send my heartiest congratulations to all involved.”
As CEO Aliye Cornish Moore says “This exciting performance is the latest milestone in the astonishing trajectory of the IBO, and a phenomenal opportunity for the orchestra to show the world that Ireland’s classical music history goes far beyond “Messiah”. Our musicians are world-class and we are incredibly proud that the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Chorus has been invited to give this performance. None of this would be possible without Culture Ireland's generous support of this performance and our international ambitions over a number of years, and also the core funding from Arts Council Ireland which has been foundational in our development.”
To hear The Irish Baroque Orchestra’s performance live from the Royal Albert Hall, tune in to BBC Radio 3 on Saturday, August 30th, at 7.30 pm.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra receives principal funding from Arts Council Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, and generous support from Culture Ireland for its international performance programme.
Excellent news. To appear at the BBC Proms in some achievement. Congratulations to all.